Pin-up Girls: A New Found Confidence

In Buszek’s book she argues how pin-up girls use their sexuality to portray the power they have over themselves and the independence they have to embrace their own sexuality. She discusses how they entice but not invite and how women’s roles changed throughout the 20^th century as culture changed due to events in history. As the 20^th century began the “new woman” introduced a new culture of women expanding their roles in society. The flapper girl made an appearance in the 1920s and during World War II women were able to take on a larger role in the war effort. This new found independence and role in society led to a more embrace and confidence of sexuality by women during this time.

“… women joined factories and family businesses, all of which brought them into contact with both the freedoms and the people of the opposite sex.” (Buszek, 81)

During the war, pin-up girls in particular were used as a way of “hope” and “protecting” of soldiers. Pin-up girls were seen on the nose of planes and soldiers were seen holding pictures of pin-up girls while on their way to battle. (Buszek, 211- 230) While this was taking place, women were embracing their new roles in society as independent women working to support the war all while embracing their sexuality.

This pin-up photograph is an excellent example of Buszek’s argument regarding pin-up girls enticing but not inviting. In this photograph she has her swimsuit untied but is still covered up. She’s holding her strap as if she may take it off but hasn’t yet. The way she is looking over her shoulder also portrays this. The look on her face with the soft smile, kind eyes and her body language shows that she may be waiting for someone to help her take off the rest of her swimsuit. While this may seem like she is inviting someone to help her take off her clothes I believe that she is actually being a tease. These two statements can be seen as both positive and negative. Her invitation for someone to help her undress could portray that she is weak and needs a man to help her. On the opposite end of the argument, her teasing could portray the power that she has to entice someone but not to need their help in the end. The color red is powerful and sexy which is the message that pin-up girls wanted to portray. The flowers on her head show that she is feminine but I believe that they could also represent that she is fragile. Flowers are pretty but delicate and the message that pin-up girls were sending men and women is that they were anything but those two things. They were strong, powerful and confident and embraced their sexuality and new roles in society in a way that women had never done before.

Works Cited

Buszek, Maria Elena. Pin-Up Grrrls: Feminism, Sexuality, And The Pin-Up, 1860 To The Present. 2003. Print.